Station-indicator



(No Modem 3. She ets--Sheet 1.-

S. B. OR A N E.

Station Indicator, No. 243,516. Patented June 28,1881. f?" I MITCHELL I0 H1 ey I WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

s. B. CRANE. Station Indicator.

No. 243,516. Patented] WITNESSES: INVBN'L'GR;

jf Q Z BY 1' j ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet a.

S B. CRANE.

, Station Indicator. No. 243,516. Patented June 28,1881.

zqt-A.

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES:

PATENT Orrrcno SYLVANUS B. CRANE, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,516, dated June 28,1881.

Application filed April 6, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, SYLVANUS B. CRANE, of Davenport, in the county ofScott and State of Iowa, have invented a new and ImprovedStation-Indicator, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactspecification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved device forindicating to railroad-car passengers the names and numbers of stationsor streets on the line of the road as the car approaches them, and atthe same time, if desired, to display advertising-cards.

The invention consists of a box or case containing parallel rollers,over one set of which is rolled an index-strip having the names ornumbers of the stations or streets printed on it, while on the other setof rollers is a strip containing advertisements, which names, numbers,and advertisements are exhibited in proper succession through the frontof the box as the said rollers are revolved; and it consists,further, ofanovel combination of wheels, springs, and other devices, whereby thesaid rollers are moved and thrown in and out' of gear, and of tensiondevices and devices for reversing the motion of the rollers andindexstrips, all of which will be hereinafter described, it beingdesigned that this indicator shall be placed in a prominent position ina car.

. Figure 1 is a front elevation of the indicator with a portion of thebox or=case removed. Fig.2 is a vertical sectional elevation on line am,Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation on line 2 y, Fig. 1.Fig. 4is a cross: section on line 2 2, Fig. 2, with parts removed toexhibit other parts.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

In the drawings, A represents the inclosing box or case, provided with aglass front, a.

Supported in the frame B, that is secured inside'of the box A, are tworollers, O 0, set one above the other loosely on their respective shaftsC O".

D is an index-strip of paper or other flexible material, containing thenames of the streets or stations along the line of the road, and saidindex strip D has an end secured to each roller 0 C, so that as saidrollers O G revolve in opposite directions the said indexstrip D shallsimultaneously wind upon one roller as it unwinds from the other. Twosmall rollers, E E, journaled in the frame B, on a lower level than theroller 0 and on either side thereof, serve to guide and support theindex-strip D, and to cause it to present a perpendicular face to theglass front a, to exhibit the station name or number in proper position.

F is the indexstrip containing the advertisements, and has an endsecured to each roller G G, whose shafts G G are journaled one above theother in the frame B, so that as said rollers G G revolvein the samedirections the said. index-strip F shall simultaneously wind upon oneroller G as it unwinds from the other roller G.

The small tension-rollers G G are journaled in the frame B, one at thefront of each roller G, to guide the index-strip F and cause it toexhibitits advertisementsin a proper position.

Journaled in the frame B, at one end of the device, is a horizontalshaft, H, on which is fastened and around which is coiled a mainspring,H, that assists in actuating the mechanism of the device. Saidmainspring H is secured to the inner face of the cog-wheel H that isloose on the shaft H, so that the uncoiling of said spring H causes thewheel H to revolve.

On the shaft H is keyed a ratchet-wheel, I; and the shaft H is preventedfrom turning under the tension of the mainspring H! by'the engagement insaid ratchet-wheel I of the pawl I, that is pivoted to a spoke of thewheel H and is held in the teeth of the ratchet I by the spring 1 It isdesigned to turn the shaft H for winding up the spring H by means of akey, and to prevent the uncoiling of said spring H a dog, 1 on the outerend of said shaft H engages in a ratchet, I, which is pivoted on theoutside of the frame B.

Above the shaft H is the lower parallel shaft, 0 journaled in the frameB, which shaft 0 is revolved by the engagement in its pinion K of thecogwvheel H Keyed on said shaft (J is a cog-wheel, K thatcommunicatesmotion to a shaft above it, as will hereinafter be setforth, and a sprocket-wheel, K that transmits by means of a chain, K?,the motion of the shaft 0 to the upper roller-shaft, O. Sliding on thesquare of this lower shaft, 0 is a perforated disk-clutch, K or anyother style of clutch, that is designed to throw thelower roller, 0, ingear with the lower shaft, 0

On the face of the cog-wheel K near its periphery, are three equidistantprojecting pins or stops, 1), and about-half way between the center andperiphery of said wheel K is a longer projecting pin or stop, 0, thepurpose of which will be hereinafter set forth. As many stops 1) c asmay be desired may be insertedin the wheel K Above the shaft C andparallel with it in the frame B, is journaled a shaft, L, that isrevolved by the engagement in its pinion L of the cog-wheel K and onthis shaft L is keyeda cog-wheel, L which gears in the pinion L of theshaft L, that is journaled in the frame B, and carries balance-vanes Lfor regulating the motion of the running parts of the device.

At the top of the device the upper rollershaft, G is journaled in theframe B and carries loosely upon it the upper roller, 0. On this shaft Ois a sprocket-wheel, 0 over which passes the chain K that transmitsmotion from the shaft 0 and on the square portion of said upper shaft, Ois aperforated sliding disk or other clutch, Oflthat is designed tothrow the upper roller, 0, in gear with the upper shaft, 0 These movingparts thus far enumerated constitute that part of the mechanismespecially designed for the exhibition of the index-strip on which arethe names or numbers of the stations and streets, and said parts havetheir counterparts in the mechanism designed especially for displayingthe index-strip of advertisements, which mechanism consists of a shaft,M, journaled in the frame B, and having fastened to it a mainspring, M,that is secured to the inner face of a cogwheel, M that is fittedloosely on the shaftM of a ratchet-wheel, M pawl M and spring M and of adog, M and ratchet M all on the shaft M.

Above the shaft M is a shaft, G revolved by the engagement in its pinionN of the cogwheel M and having keyed on it a cog-wheel, N, and asprocket-wheel, N and having on its square portion a perforateddisk-clutch, N

Above the shaft G2 is a shaft, 0, that is revolved by the engagement inits pinion O of the cog-wheel N, and having keyed on it a cog-wheel, 0that gears in the pinion O of the shaft 1?, which carries balancevanesP.

A chain, N, connects the sprocket-wheel N with the sprocket-wheel G ofthe shaft G of the roller G, and on the square portion of the shaft G isa perforated sliding disk or other clutch, G that is designed to throwthe upper roller, G in gear with the shaft G The mechanisms of thestation and street indicator strip and of the advertising-strip arecapable of operating independently of each other; but in this case theyare made to operate together.

A rocking bar, Q, is journaled in the frame B, parallel with and aboutmidway between the shafts C G and extending to the left from this bar Q,as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, are two rigid arms, on a, respectively, thatserve as stops to prevent the movement of the mechanisms, and from theother side of the said bar Q projects a lever, 0, to which is attached acord, 0, that is designed to be conducted to within easy reach of theconductor of the car, whereby said conductor or operator may at theappropriate time set in motion the mechanisms for displaying both thestation name or number and the advertisements. A spring, 8, extendingfrom the frame B parallel with the bar Q, rests on the arm n, andthereby serves to hold said bar Q and its projecting arms in position orto restore them to position at suitable times. The free bent end of thearm m holds against a stud, d, that projects from the face of thecog-wheel L and thereby holds said wheel L and its connected train ofgears from moving, while the free end of the arm n is held against astud or stop, I), of the cog-wheel K in order to control its movements,as hereinafter set forth.

In the frame B, below and parallel with the bar Q, isjournaled a rockingbar, R, having extending from it, to the left, a bent arm or stop, 0against whose upward-turned and inclined extremity the stud or stop 0 ofthe cogwheel K comes in contact when the mechanism is in operation,withthe efieet ofliberating the advertising-strip mechanism, so that thelatter can operate. From the right of this bar R are extended two rigidarms or stops, 1) q, the lower of which is designed for the contact of astud, f, projecting from the face of the cog-wheel 0 while the end ofthe arm qserves as a stop for the stud g, projecting from the face ofthe cog'wheel N. A spring, 8, extending from the frame B, )arallel withthe bar R, has an end resting on the armsp q, and there by retains thesaid bar R and its projecting arms in their normal position or restoresthem to position at proper times.

A rod, S, entered through an end of the box or case A, serves to operatethe clutch mechanism of the lower rollers, O G, and also thetension-sprin gs, that are set at the opposite ends of said rollers O G.The clutch mechanism consists of a horizontal cross-bar, 4, secured onthe end of the rod S, and having its slotted ends embracing the collarsof the clutches N K On pulling out the said rod S the said clutches N Kare disengaged from the pins h k, that respectivelyproject from the endsof the rollers O G, and thereby the said rollers O G are unclutched orthrown out of gear, while on pushing in said rod S the pins h it becomeengaged in the perforations of said clutches N K and the rollers O G arethere by thrown in gear.

When by the outward pull of the rod S the rollers O G are thrown out ofgear, the tensionsprings T, which are secured on the end of a rod, T,that extends between the rollers O G from the crossbar r, are pulled incontact with the rear ends of said rollers G G, and thereby prevent saidrollers O G from revolving too easily, as the index-strips D F arerolled up on the rollers C G, and maintain a proper tension on saidstrips D F. A vertical spring, 8 secured on said rod S and pressing fromthe frame- B against the cross-bar 1, serves to hold the clutches N Kengaged with the pins h 7c of the rollers O G.

A similarclutch mechanism is applied to the upper rollers, C G,consisting of rod U, perpendicular bar t, spring a, rod V, andtensionsprings W. Said rollers G G have clutch -pins 2' Z, respectively,for engagement in the clutches O G when said rollers G G are to bethrown in gear.

The clutch-rods S U are respectively provided with collars s a neartheir outer ends, which ends are extended through correspondingapertures, 12 w, in the box or case A, so that when either of said rodsS U are drawn outward to un gear their corresponding rollers, U G or OG, the said rods may be pressed down so that their collars s u willengage and hold firmly in or upon the edges of the metal plates m 3 thatare set over the apertures o 20, thereby holding the respective clutchesungeared from their respective rollers. Vhen the springs H M are woundup and the index-strips D F are wound about the lower rollers, G G, therod S is pulled outward, and thereby the rollers O G are put out of gearwith the mechanism of the indicator, and at the same time, and by thesame movement of the rod S, the pressure of the tension-springs T uponthe said rollers O G is applied, in order that said rollers G G may notmove too freely. The rod U is then pushed inward with the efl'ect ofgearing the rollers C G and of removing from them the tension-springs W,so that said rollers C G and their operating mechanisms may n'zove witha minimum of friction.

When the operator, on approaching a station, pulls the cord 0,(releasing it instantly, however,) with the effect of turning the bar Q,so that the end of the arm m is released from the stud or stop (I of thewheel L and the arm nfrom a stud or stop, I), of the wheel K thecog-wheel L then immediately makes a full revolution, thereby causingthe cog-wheel K 130 make one-third of a revolution, and thereby motionis communicated to the roller C, so that the station index-strip D isrolled from the roller 0 on to the roller 0 sufficiently to display thename of one station. Then the stud or stop cl has come round againagainst the end of the arm m, and astud, b, (of which, in this instance,there are three,) has come in contact with the end of the arm n, andthereby the motion of all the parts is stopped. At the next succeedingstation the operator pulls the cord 0 with like results. At the thirdstation a pull of the cord 0 produces the same results, and in additionthereto the stud or stop 0 of the cog-wheel K comes in contact with thebent end of the arm 0, with the effect of turning the bar B so as toliberate the end of the vertising-index mechanisms continue until by therevolution of the cog-wheel N the stud or stop 9 is brought in contactwith the end of the arm q, whereby the bar R is turned so as to throw upthe bent end of the arm 0 in front of the stud or stop 0, the arm a isbrought against a stop, b, and the end of the arm at is presented to thestop cl, and at the same time the arm 19 is presented to the stop f,whereby all the mechanism is checked,- to be moved again only on pullingthe cord 0.

It will be seen that with this mechanism the indicator displays a newadvertisement only at each third station; but it is obvious that withoutdeparting from my invention the mechanism can be arranged to display anadvertisement at every station or every second sta tion, or as often asmay be desired.

When the index-strips D F have been unwound from the lower rollers, O G,the rod S is pushed inward to gear said rollers with the actuatingmechanism, and the rod U is pulled outward to ungear the rollers G Gfrom said mechanism, and then, on the pulling of the cord 0, themovement of said indexstrips D F will be reversed.

I do not confine myself to the precise construction of parts as hereinshown and described, as it is evident that one mainspring instead oftwo, as now used, may be made to move the mechanism of the indicator,and that other modifications may be made without departing from myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a station-indicator, the combination, with theshafts O G (3 G and rollers O G C G, of the clutches K N C G and theiroperating mechanisms, substantially as herein shown and described,whereby said rollers are geared with the operating mechanisms of theindicator, as set forth.

2. In a station-indicator, the combination, with the clutch-rods S U,bars 1 t, springs s u, and rods T V, of the tension -springs T W,substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the tension of theindex strips is maintained, as set forth.

3. As a means for connecting the actuating mechanism of the index-stripsD F, the rocking bar Q, provided with arms m n, and lever 0, and rockingbar R, provided with arms 0 p q, substan tiallyas herein shown anddescribed.

SYLVANUS B. CRANE.

Witnesses I. I. Browse, 0. SEDGwIoK.

